2023 World Bowls Championships: Day 4 recap
Host nation Australia has stamped its authority on the World Bowls Championships, locking away spots in five of seven finals to be played across the weekend.
Broadbeach was a hive of activity on Friday as knockout action commenced.
It took a comeback for the ages for Australia’s women’s fours team to book its spot in Saturday’s final.
Hong Kong China pushed the home team in their quarter final, but fell short to setup a semi final between the Jackaroos and Scotland.
The Scots flew out of the blocks, jumping out to an early 12-0 lead to put themselves in the box seat. They then worked themselves ahead to 18-8 before Australia recorded a comeback to remember.
Trailing by six with two ends to play, the Jackaroos collected back-to-back threes to force an extra end.
Scotland opted to keep the mat, but Australia’s run continued and they secured a win for the ages.
They will face old foes England in the final, who snuck past Wales by one-shot in the quarter finals before a 10-shot semi final win over New Zealand.
Two final rounds of women’s singles sectional play were needed to be played early on Friday, before quarter finals in the final session of the day.
2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ellen Ryan held off Switzerland’s Laura Butler to progress to the semi finals. She will meet in-form New Zealand star Tayla Bruce, who beat Sri Lanka underdog Kumari Mangos.
Katherine Rednall (England) and Kelly McKerihen (Canada) will meet in the other semi final after comfortable quarter final wins.
Malaysia recorded a win to remember in the men’s pairs, taking down reigning Commonwealth Games champions Wales on an extra end.
They were undone by Australia in the semi final, who took care of Scotland by 17-shots in their quarter, before booking a spot in the final.
Ireland awaits the home team, taking out New Zealand and Canada on their way to the final.
An Australia-Scotland thriller awaits in the men’s triples final, with advancing relatively unchallenged. Thailand nearly caused the upset of the tournament in the quarter final, but fell by four shots to the Scottish.
Scotland will have a chance to back up a para women’s pairs Commonwealth Games gold with a world title after taking down Australia in Friday’s semi final. They meet New Zealand, who held off a gallant Thailand team.
Australia will face South Africa in both men’s para and vision-impaired pairs finals after impressive semi final wins.
View the day four results HERE
Day five of play commences from 8.30am AEST at Helensvale on Saturday.
The 2023 World Bowls Championships is proudly supported by Tourism and Events Queensland and Major Events Gold Coast.
